Used 2023 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento might seem unassuming, but it’s a unique SUV. It’s a midsize 3-row SUV, but it’s quite a bit smaller and more affordable than minivan alternatives like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Kia’s own Telluride. It’s also unique for having standard 3-row seating, unlike other similarly sized SUVs like the Ford Edge, Chevrolet Blazer, and Nissan Murano, which come exclusively with two rows.

Among the many strong suits of the Kia Sorento are an upscale interior, modern safety and infotainment tech features, and an excellent warranty, all at an affordable price. It’s also a pretty stylish SUV.

The all-wheel-drive (AWD) models come with the rugged X-Line appearance package, but don’t get too excited. It isn’t a serious off-roader like the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. However, it does offer good all-weather traction and an extra inch of ground clearance.

If you’re looking for a practical SUV with excellent fuel economy, consider the Kia Sorento hybrid and Sorento plug-in hybrid, reviewed separately.

There are two engines available under the hood of the Kia Sorento. The base engine is a naturally aspirated inline-4, which delivers adequate performance and decent fuel economy.

However, the available turbocharged inline-4 is an easy recommendation. It brings a major upgrade in performance and more towing capacity while returning almost the same fuel economy as the base engine. The lively turbo engine is an excellent upgrade if you can afford it.

The base engine comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which has a more engaging feel than a CVT transmission like some of its competitors use. The turbo engine also uses an 8-speed automatic, but it’s a dual-clutch transmission that delivers quicker shifts to facilitate sportier driving.

As for handling, the Sorento is pretty nimble for an SUV this size. Since it has a smaller footprint than bigger 3-row SUVs like the Kia Telluride, it has more agile handling and can be pretty fun to whip around corners, especially with the turbo engine. It has a satisfying balance of fun handling in the corners and a smooth, comfortable ride on the highway.

All-wheel drive is optional on the EX and popular SX trims of the Sorento. It doesn’t give it hardcore, rock-climbing off-road capabilities, but it does give the Sorento improved all-weather traction and mild off-road chops.

Kia calls the design theme of the Sorento “Refined Boldness,” and we think that’s a pretty accurate way to describe the interior design of the Sorento. Kia has dramatically improved interior quality in recent years, and the Sorento is no exception.

The cabin design looks great, and the materials get nicer as you work your way up the trim levels. For example, you can get quilted leather seats, open-pore wood trim, and bright satin finishes.

Seating for up to seven is standard in the Sorento. Turbocharged models get second-row captain’s chairs, which drops the total seating capacity to six. However, this is a worthwhile trade-off since captain’s chairs make the second row more comfortable and the third row easier to access. If you really need seven seats regularly, you’ll be better off with a bigger SUV like the Telluride or a minivan like the Kia Carnival.

Interior space is pretty generous in the first two rows, with plenty of legroom and headroom. However, the third seats are cramped and best reserved for children. Also, cargo space is pretty tight when all three rows are in place. As in all SUVs, folding down seats yields more cargo space. With the third row folded down, you get a generous cargo hold with 38.5 cubic feet of space. Behind the third row is 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for a quick trip to the grocery store.

For these reasons, the Kia Sorento is best if you only occasionally need a third row of seats and can keep them folded down most of the time.

The exterior styling of the Kia Sorento strikes a nice balance of rugged and modern. It’s boxy enough to look like a rugged SUV, but sleek enough to look refined and high-tech. Its ruggedness increases with the X-Line models, which add an extra inch of ride height, roof rails, and an off-roady appearance package with skid plates.

As for the size, the Kia Sorento is a bit small for a 3-row SUV. Its dimensions are similar to midsize 2-row SUVs like the Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Honda Passport, but it has the added convenience of standard 3-row seating.

KIA DRIVE WISE
The standard Kia Drive Wise safety tech suite on every Sorento includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, automatic high-beams, driver attention warning, and more.

SECOND-ROW CAPTAIN’S CHAIRS
Every Sorento with a turbocharged engine comes with second-row captain’s chairs. These not only make the second row more comfortable, but they make the third row easier to access.

The base LX trim of the Sorento is pretty well-equipped for the price. The standard powertrain is a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine rated at 191 horsepower. It’s linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive is standard.

The base Sorento has standard 3-row seating for up to seven with one-touch slide-and-fold second-row seats allowing easy access to the third row.

Standard Kia Drive Wise safety tech features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, and rear occupant alert. The standard infotainment system is an 8-inch screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Of course, you also get the basics that you’d expect from any new SUV like air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, and power door locks.

Upgrading to the S trim adds some nice features over the base LX model while keeping the price reasonable. It has gloss black exterior trim, stylish 18-inch wheels, SynTex faux leather seating, heated front seats, a 10.25-inch infotainment system with navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, and an additional second-row USB port.

The EX trim is where the desirable turbocharged engine becomes standard. Additionally, you get second-row captain’s chairs, a hands-free power liftgate, a wireless charging pad, and extra safety tech like adaptive cruise control and the Highway Driving Assist system.

The SX trim only adds a few extra features like a panoramic sunroof, LED projector headlights, and a power front passenger seat. However, the SX Prestige trim takes the Sorento into another level of luxury. This is where you get premium features like leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, Bose premium audio, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The SX Prestige also comes with some of the greatest hits of safety like reverse automatic emergency braking, Kia’s  Blind-Spot View Monitor, and a surround-view camera.

All-wheel drive with a center locking differential is optional on the S, EX, and SX Premium trims of the Kia Sorento. When you add AWD, you also get the rugged X-Line appearance package, which adds some nice features like roof rails and an extra inch of ground clearance. Just don’t expect any serious upgrades for technical off-roading.

There are two engines available in the Kia Sorento. The base engine in the LX and S models is a 2.5-liter inline-4 producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The EX, SX, and SX Prestige models employ a more potent 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 with a significant performance upgrade at 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque.

Despite the big performance boost, the gap in fuel economy is almost negligible between the two engines. For that reason, the turbo engine is a worthwhile upgrade if your budget allows it. The combined fuel economy rating for the base engine is 26 mpg with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD. Those numbers for the turbo engine are 25 mpg with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD.

Both engines use an 8-speed automatic transmission, but they’re different transmissions. The base engine is linked to a traditional automatic, but the turbo engine uses a dual-clutch transmission that delivers quicker shifts.

The Sorento has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds with the base engine and 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine.

Additionally, there are hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants of the Kia Sorento, which we review separately.

2.5-liter inline-4 (LX, S)
191 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
181 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/29 mpg (FWD), 23/25 mpg (AWD)

Turbo 2.5-liter inline-4 (EX, SX, SX Prestige)
281 horsepower @5,800 rpm
311 lb-ft @1,700-rpm – 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 mpg (FWD) 22/27 mpg (AWD)

More Sorento fuel economy information is available at the EPA’s website.

Good Safety Scores

The Kia Sorento is an IIHS Top Safety Pick and it earns a 4-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Good safety ratings bolster the Sorento’s credentials and a trusty family SUV.

Class-Leading Warranty

The Kia Sorento boasts class-leading warranty coverage. It’s backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.